Snowplow for railway tracks



Nov. 24, 1931. w. ROBISON ET AL 1,833,359

SNOWPLOW FOR RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Feb. 10. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 'provide a snowlplow of the character stated Patented Nov. 24, 1931 WILLIAM nomson AND IwnoLrxr w. EICHHQRST, or Yonx'rowN, IOWA sNowPLow FOR RAILWAY TRACKS Application fileddlelnuary 1 1931." scrim t. 514,352.

. This invention relates to snow-plows, and has for one of itsobjects to provide anovel device of this character which shall be adapted to be used for the purpose of Hanging or clearing snow away from the rails of a railtrack. I a;

he invention has for a further object to provide a snow-plow of the character stated which shall be adapted to be mounted upon a section motor car, and which shall be adapted to be arranged on the car in a position to flange or clear the snowawayfrom the outer or inner sides of the rails and'then arranged on the car in a position to clear the snow awqag from the other sides of'the rails.

I e invention has for a further object to provide a snow plow of the-character stated which shall embody a blade adapted to extend angul'arly from the outer or' inner sides of the rails, together With'means adapted to suspend the'blade from the section motor car.

Theinvention has for a further object to provide a snow-plow ojf-the character stated wherein the blade suspending means shall be adapted to be easily and quickly secured to the section motor car soas to position the blade opposite either the outer'orinner sides of the rails; e I I I The invention has for a furtherObJect to wherein the blade shall'be connected to its suspending meansin such'manner as to permit it to be adjustedvertically and thus enable'its lower edgeto bearranged at the required distance above the ties, so as to permit it to yield under impact'with a large stone,

large cinder, high tie or thelike, so as to permit it'to be arranged in the required angular position with respectto the rails, and so as to permit it to be readily "raised so as to clear crossings and switchesg I The invention has for a further object to provide a snow-plow of the characterstated which shall be siinple, durable and of light weight, and wherein the blade shall be con nected to its suspending means in a manner to permit it to be compactly folded with respect there-to when not in use.

With the foregoing and-other objectsnin View, the nature of which will appear as the and claimed, and illustrated in the accom- Figure 1. 7

description proceeds,. the invention consists in the C'OIlSt-ITUCtIOIl,CQDlblIlfitlOli and arrange ment of parts hereinafter, fully described pan'ying" drawings, wherein n 55 Figure 1' 1s a View in side elevation illuse trating the application of the'snow-plowto.

a section motorv car, 'thesnow-plow bein" applied to the carin position to clear or ange away the snowfrom 'theouter sides of the 0 rails atone sideott'he track. Figure 2 is a top plan'viewo'f the car and snow-plow. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the 7 vertical plane indicated by the line 3- 3 of FigureQQ" Figure 4 is a sectional view takenon the vertical plane indicatedby theline Moi Figure 5 is a perspective view of a frag 0 nientary portion ofthe blade carrienframe and fragmentary portions" of the "shafts throughv which the blade is "suspended from the frame. I I u I Figure 6"is a sectional "view taken on the verti'cal planefindi'c'ated by the line 6- 6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a' see'tiona'l view taken on the I verticalplane' indicatedfbythe line 7'--7 of 8 a Figure 8 is a top plan viewot thecarand' snow-plow with the plow in position to clear or flange away the snow from the inner'sides I of the rails at oneside of thetrack,-and Figure?) is a vi-ew in side elevation of the 3 carand snow-plow withthe plow inpos'ition in which itisshown in Figure '85-; j

Referringin detail to thedrawings, 1 designates the rails and "2 the ties of "a railway e track. 3 designates thewheels, lathe plat.- form or floor, 5 the motor, 6 the wheel guards, 7 the longitudinal side beams, and 7 it the end bars of a section motor car of 'w ell known construction.

The snow-plow comprises a blade 8' which '95 2.? The blade'-8 is provided at its rear or Q ;,meansthrough the mediumof-which the ten convex side with reinforcing ribs 9 which extend from a plane close to the upper edge of the blade to a plane slightly below the horizontal center of the blade, and which are arranged at opposite sides of the vertical center of the blade. A bracket 10 is pivotally secured to and between the upperends of the ribs 9 by a bolt 11, and atubular shaft 12 is secured, as at '13, to and extends upwardly from the bracket.

Thebolt 11 connects the b1ade8 to the shaft 12 for rocking movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, and the connectlon between the blade and handle is lo:

cated rearwardly ofthe upper edge of the" ,blade. A screw 14 which is engaged with the upper end of the blade 8 and contacts with the front side ofethe lower end' ofthe shaft 1 12,, serves "to limit the forward swinging movement of the blade with respect to the shaft. A coil spring 15 which islocated at A, thefront side 'of the shaft 12, is secured at its ;lower end to the upper end of the blade and at its upper end to the lower end of a rod 16, ,and serves to normally hold the blade in its foremost position, which position thereof is j determined by thescrew 1 1 and'which may be varied by adjusting the screw. The upper end of the rod 16 is secured to the shaft 12 by sion of the spring 15 may be varied, This means comprises a bracket 17 which is secured to the shaft .12 and through which'the upper end of the rod 16 freely passes, and a nut 18 engaged with the rod and bearing upon the bracket. r 1 y r Acarrier frame '19 for. the blade 8, is of elongated rectangular formation in plan, and

V 23, and crossed braces 24, and

- 40115 mounted upon and extends longitudinally of the section motor car. The frame 19 consists of side bars 20, transverse bars 21, 22 and .thereofis bent downwardly. The blade 8 is connected to the rear end ofithe frame'19 for movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely ofcthe sectlon motor car. ThIS connection is established through the medium :of a bracket 25 anda pivot bolt 26, the bracket being positionedbetween the rear ends-of the frame bars 20 and secured by U-clips 27to the shaft 12'1between' the ends of: the latter, and

' tlie bolt.passingethroughthe rear ends of these frame bars and throughthe bracket.

Thepivotal connectioncbetween the blade -8 and the frame 19 permits the blade to be .readily swung into or out of operative position. Theblade 8 is normally held in oper the front end I about a verticalaxis and thus arrange it at the desired or required angle with respect to the railsl. When it is desired to alter the angular position of the blade 8 with respect to the rails 1, the clips 27 are loosened, and after the blade has been turned to the desired position, the clips are tightened to maintain it in such position. The brace 28 comprises lower c bars'28a of angular formation in crosssection and connected'at their lower ends to the inner sides ofthe frame bars 20 byuthe pivot 29, and it also comprises upper bars 28?) havingtheir'lowerends pivotally connected, as at 280,;to the brace bars 28a and connected at theirupper ends to the shaft 30 by the pivot The brace bars 28?) are pivoted to the side members or flanges of the brace bars 28a, and the upper members or flanges of the brace bars 28a contact with the upper sides of thebrace bars 28?) to hold the brace against downward folding or breaking movement. YA substantially, U-shaped member 31 positioned between the brace bars 28?) and having angular ends 31a extending through thej overlapped portions of the brace bars 28a and 28b, holds the brace 28 against accidental upward folding or breaking movement When the blade 8 is ininoperative position, the brace bars 28a and 28b, and the 1 shafts 12 and 30, occupy a position between and substantially parallel to the frame bars I 20, and the blade 8 occupies azrearwardlyr directed position with respect to the frame bars) It will thus be seen that when the; blade 8 is in inoperative position, the shafts 12and 20, brace bars 28a and-28b, and the frame 19 arecompactly arranged, and these parts are held in this position by the member 31, the angular ends of which now en-' gage in openings 32 in the frame bars 20.

A front bar 33 and a rear bar 3 isecured to the section motor car and extending laterally from one side thereof, provide means for'connecting the blade carrier frame 19 to the car when snow is to be cleared or-flanged away from the outer sides of the rails 1. The front bar .33 has an upwardly offset angular end 33awwhich embraces and is secured to one of the wheel guards 6 at point between the ends of the latter. The front bar 33 is secured to the wheel guard 6 by a bo1t'35. and the connection between this bar and wheel guard is reinforced by a brace 36 secured to the bar near the wheel guard andto' the floor 4 of the car.

This connection is also reinforced by a brace 37 which is secured to the front end of the wheel guard 6 and to the outer end of the bar 33. The rearbar. 34 is secured to the rear central bracket 38 of the section motor car and'to that side beam 7 of the motor car near the wheel guard 6 to which the frontbar 33 is secured, and this connection is established through the medium of clips a) and 40. The rear bar34 extends beyond that. of the car beyond which the front bar 33' extends, and. the. outer ends of. the bars are connected by abar- 41:, front bar is located in a plane below that of the rear bar 34, thefront end of the carrier frame 19 rests upon the front bar, and the rear end of the frame rests upon the rear bar. The'frame cross. bar 21 is. provided with. a series of openings 42 through one of which passes a bolt 43 carried by the front bar 33 and serving to: secure the. carrier frame 19 to this bar, the openings permitting the. carrier frame to be secured tor-the. bar. at different distances from. the side. of the. car- The frame 19 is secured to the rear bar 34 by J-bolts 4A. which. are; carried by" the frame cross bar 22 and embrace the rear bar. Coil springs 4:5:mounted upon; the bolts 44 between the. frame cross bar 22: and the nuts 46 of the bolts, serve to hold. the; frame 19 against the rear bar 34;. The frame cross bars: 22 and 23 are of formation in cross section, and their downwardly extending flanges. contact with. the opposite. sides ofthe rear bar 34. and assist the: bolts. 43' and Min: holding the carrier frame 19 against forward or rearward movement on the bars 33 and 345. The springs 45' permit the rear end of the carrier frame 19 and consequently the blade 8 to yield upwardly when the latter -engages alarge stone, large cinder, high tie or the like..

In practice, the snow-plowis mounted upon a section] motor car withrthe blade 8 positioned outwardly of the rails at. one side of the track so that the snow outwardly of'these rails will be cleared o-r flanged away as the car moves along the track To effect this application of the plow, the bar 33 is secured in; an outwardly extendedposition to the wheel guard 6 located at that side of the car facing this side of the track, the bar 34 is secured to the car with a portion thereof projecting beyond the corresponding side of the car, the frame 9 is positioned upon and secured to the bars, the blade 8 is swung downwardly into and secured in active position, and the blade is then turned into and secured in the required angular position with respect to these rails. p

After the snow has been cleared or flanged away from the rails at this side of the track,

the snow-plow is arranged upon the car to po-.

sition the blade 8 outwardly of the rails at the other side of the track. To accomplish this the bar 33 is removed from the wheel guard 6 to which it is applied and secured to the wheel guard at the other side of the car in an outwardly extended position with respect thereto, the clips 39 and 40 are loosened, the bar 34 is then moved endwise to position a portion thereof outwardly beyond this side of the car, and the clips are then tightened. After this has been" done theframe 19 is mounted. urpon and secured to the bars, the blade 8; is swung into; and .Se

cured in activeposition, and the bladeisthen turned into) and secured. in required angular position with respect to these rails. After the snow has been cleared away from'the rails at this side of. the track, the plowmay be arranged on. the car in. a position to clear snow away froni'the inner: sidesdof the rail's at one side ofthe track, and thenarranged on the can to clear the snow away from the inner sides of the rails atthe oppo'r site. sides of the track Then. the snow-plow is in either of these positions, 'thencarrier framev 1 9 rests. upon; and is, secured 'to the floor &. and one of. the end barsloz of the car,

as shown in Figure 8. The mounting of theblade 8-; so as: to permit :it' to be turned about a. substantially verticah axis; perm-its the blade to be arranged in the required'an-fi gular position to effect theclbaring or'fla'ngmg away of. the snow from the inner or outer. sides of the: rails, the mounting of i the blade for movement about the horizontal axis: 11 permits it to rock upwardly and about a substantially vertical axis, but also for vertical adjustment so as to position its lower edge at the required. distance above the ties, the snow-plow may be controlled. by one While we have describedv the principle of.

the invention, together with the structure which we now considerthe preferred em,- bodiment thereof, it is toi be understood that the-structure shown is merel-y illustrative that such changes may be made, when i t will be: further understood that.

desired, as fall. within the sc peof the in.-

vention asolain ed... What is olalmed is LA snow-plow for ara-ilway "aim o prising. a vehicle movable along the, track, mean-s nioimted on the vehicle at one side of the longitudinal center' thereof, means. securedto said means for adjustment about a substantially vertical. axis, ablade. 7 i

secured. to-Lsaidsecond means foradj-ustment about a substantially horizontal axis, means limiting the moyement of the blade in a. for-: ward @llI'QK-ZiiLOH, and means yieldingly m-arn- .taining the blade in its foremostposition. p

2; A. snow-plow for a railway track, comprising a vehicleniovable alongithe track, means mounted on the vehicle'at: one side of the longitudinal center thereof; a. shaft. connectedto. said means: for movement about a substantially ho riz ont'a-l axis. into a; parallel sec or; angular position with respect thereto, means connected to said first means and shaft to releasably maintain the latter in its angular position, and a blade secured to the shaft. f Y

'3. A snow-plow for a railway track, comprising a vehicle movable along the track, means mounted on'the vehicle atone'side of .the longitudinal center thereof, a shaft connected to said means for movement about a substantially horizontal axis into a parallel or angular "position with respect thereto, means connected to said first means and shaft to releasably maintain the latter in its angular position, a blade connected to the shaft .for movement about a substantiallyhort zontal axis, means limiting the forward movement of the blade, and means yieldingly maintainingthe blade in its foremost position. I

4. A snow-plow for a railway track, comprising'a vehicle movable along the track,

means mounted on the vehicle at one side of the longitudinal center thereof, a tubular shaft, means securing the tubular shaft to said first means for movement about right angularly related axes, a second shaft within the tubular shaft'and with respect to which the tubualr shaft is .turnable about one of said axes, a folding brace connected to said first means andsaid second shaft, and a blade securedto the tubular shaft.

5. A snow-plow for a railway track, comprising a vehicle movable along the track means mounted, on the vehicle at one side of the longitudinal center thereof, a tubular "shaft, means securing the tubular shaft to said first means for movement about right angularly related axes, a second shaft within the tubular shaft and with respect towhich the tubular shaft is turnable about one of said axes, a folding brace connected to said first means'and said second shaft, a blade secured to the tubular shaft for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means limiting the forward movement of the blade,

shaft," means engaging the brace sections vertical axis, a blade secured to the shaft for forward and rearward swinging movement about a horizontal axis, means limiting the 5 forward movement of theblade,'and means yieldingly holding the blade inits. foremost positlon.

9 A snow-plow comprising av carrier, a

shaft, means for securingthe shaft to the 7 carrier. for adjustment about its longitudinalv axis and-for movement into an angularor substantially parallel position with relation to the carrier, means for releasably holding the shaft in angularposition with relation to the carrier, and a blade secured to the shaft.

10. Asnow plow comprising a carrier, a

shaft, means securing the shaft'to the carrier for'ad]ustment about its longitudinal axis and forniovement into an angular or substantially parallel position with relation to the carrier, means for releasably holding the shaft in angular position with relation to the carrier, means for releasably holding the shaft in substantially parallel position with relation to the carrier, and a blade secured to the shaft. c Y V In testimony whereofwe hereunto aflix our signatures.

, WILLIAM RoBIsoN."

and means yieldingly holding the blade in its foremost position. I r A'snow-plow for a railway track,.com- {prising a vehicle movable along the track, arms secured to the vehicle and extending transversely thereof, a bolt carriedby one of the arms, a. carrier positioned upon the arms and extending longitudinally of the" vehicle and provided with a series of openings through one of which the bolt passes, spring pressed bolts mounted on the carrier and engagingthe other arm, the carrier; p

7. A' snow-plow including a carrier a shaft, means connecting the shaft to one end of the carrier for movement about a hori zontal axis into an angular or substantially parallel position with respect to the carrier, .afolding brace secured to the carrier and and a blade secured to V i "RUDOLPH wmcnnonsr. 

